THE BASIC STRUCTURE OF BONES – 2
The images show a small area of a bone section as seen with a microscope.
The upper image is a histological section of a small area of trabecular bone, also called spongy bone. It shows several trabeculae surrounded by clear, poorly stained “empty spaces” containing many cells.
The trabeculae are seen as short pink stretches of bone tissue that merge with other trabeculae forming a tri-dimensional labyrinth.
By moving the mouse over the image or clicking over the image, the trabeculae are highlighted in or orange.
The clear areas between the trabeculae contain mostly loose connective tissue and become highlighted in faint blue when using the mouse.
The trabeculae and the spaces between them form the spongy bone shown in the previous page.
The nuclei present inside the trabeculae, as well those that are seen as a row apposed on the surface of the trabeculae belong to bone cells.
The upper image is a histological section of a small area of trabecular bone, also called spongy bone. It shows several trabeculae surrounded by clear, poorly stained “empty spaces” containing many cells.
The trabeculae are seen as short pink stretches of bone tissue that merge with other trabeculae forming a tri-dimensional labyrinth.
By moving the mouse over the image or clicking over the image, the trabeculae are highlighted in or orange.
The clear areas between the trabeculae contain mostly loose connective tissue and become highlighted in faint blue when using the mouse.
The trabeculae and the spaces between them form the spongy bone shown in the previous page.
The nuclei present inside the trabeculae, as well those that are seen as a row apposed on the surface of the trabeculae belong to bone cells.
The bottom image will show the location of some of the cells of the bone tissue. The majority of the bone cells belong to two types that differ in their location and functions:
1 – The cells within the trabeculae, surrounded by bone matrix highlighted in light green are called osteocytes.
2 – The cells placed on the surface of the trabeculae that in sections appearto as rows of nuclei, are called osteoblasts. They become highlighted in orange.
3 – In the lower right corner of the figure can be seen (highlighted in blue and indicated by an arrow) a large cell, placed on the surface of a trabecula. This cell is an osteoclast.
Bone. Staining: HE. Magnification: Low.
Bone. Staining: HE. Magnification: Low.